Alzheimer’s disease on mother’s side linked to ‘increased risk’ of the condition

A family history of Alzheimer’s disease on the mother’s side might increase the chances of someone developing the condition, new research suggests.

Whether a person inherits risk of Alzheimer’s from their mother or father influences the danger of changes in the brain that lead to disease, according to the new study.

After evaluating 4,400 adults aged 65 to 85 who had memory loss and trouble solving problems, the researchers found those with a history of Alzheimer’s on either their mother’s side, or both parents’ sides, had increased proteins (amyloids) linked to Alzheimer’s in the brain.

The findings suggest that considering sex-specific parental history could be important in identifying adults at heightened risk of the condition.

Mabel Seto, first author and a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Neurology at the Brigham, said: “If your father had early onset symptoms, that is associated with elevated levels in the offspring.

“However, it doesn’t matter when your mother started developing symptoms – if she did at all, it’s associated with elevated amyloid.”

The researchers looked at the family history of older adults from a trial aimed at Alzheimer’s prevention.

They were asked about when their parents started to lose their memories, and the scientists also asked if their parents were ever formally diagnosed or if there was autopsy confirmation of Alzheimer’s disease.

When comparing the answers and measuring amyloid in those involved in the study, the researchers found that history of memory impairment at all ages on the mother’s side, and history of early-onset memory impairment on the father’s side was associated with higher amyloid levels in those who had no symptoms.

According to the findings, only having a history of late-onset memory impairment on the father’s side was not associated with higher levels of the proteins.

Ms Seto said the results of the study are fascinating because Alzheimer’s tends to be more prevalent in women.

She added: “It’s really interesting from a genetic perspective to see one sex contributing something the other sex isn’t.”

She also noted the findings were not affected by whether people in the study were biologically male or female.

The researchers say the next step is to expand the study to look at other groups and examine how parental history affects cognitive decline and amyloid accumulation over time and why DNA from the mother plays a role.

The findings are published in the Jama Neurology journal.